Genre: Action/Superhero
Director: Ed Zwick
Writers: Jimmy Ellis & Dwight Gallo
Based on Marvel Comics characters
Cast: Casey Affleck, Haley Bennett, Tinsley Price, Eric Roberts, Ted Levine, Udo Kier, Chris Klein, Richard Harmon, Garrett Morris
Plot: Jack Monroe (Casey Affleck) sits in a sterile waiting room at the Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Department. He stares at the exit sign as his name is called. He is zoned out however as the receptionist walks toward him and taps him on the shoulder. He then stares at her and smiles, standing up to walk. He is taken in to meet with his case worker, Kirby (Joe Lo Truglio). Jack immediately shows him an old prescription bottle and asks for a refill so he can sleep again. Kirby refuses to authorize a refill, saying that Jack needs to see a military physician in order to get a new prescription. Before another word can be said Jack angrily storms out of the office. On his way out, Jack punches a hole through a brick wall – much to his own surprise. Kirby following after him stops in his tracks when he sees the hole, he immediately returns to his office and enters the incident with Jack into the computer system.
The VA incident report automatically triggers an alert on the computer of one Dr. Faustus (Udo Kier), he walks away from a rat he is experimenting on and to his phone. He dials a number and places it to his ear. Faustus sets up a meeting with General Haywerth the following morning.
Jack walks back dejected along the beach. He hands a dollar to a homeless man that thanks him by name, Jack smiles telling him to go buy his dog something to eat. As he continues walking, a few more people call him by name. Jimmy Russell (Richard Harmon) runs up to his side asking how Jack’s meeting went. Jack tells him not today, and continues walking, Jimmy looks on but leaves Jack be. Jack sits down in front of his tent looking out on the ocean. Franklin (Garrett Morris) stands in front of him reminding Jack that although he may have things tough now, he has time to turn it all around. Jack tells him that he is a war veteran that no-one will hire, he doesn’t want to be here just as much as the rest of them. He reminds Jack of Jimmy and that the boy would do anything for Jack, he looks up to Jack, it’s time to lead again, Franklin knows all the good that Jack has done for these people, this family, but it's time he takes care of himself first for a change. Jack looks up to Franklin, barely cracking a smile. Franklin walks away and Jimmy comes through asking Jack to come get some dinner with him. Jack smiles and stands up.
Jack and Jimmy are eating at the homeless shelter, Jimmy chats away with very little response from Jack. A woman, Priscilla (Haley Bennet), catches Jack’s eye as she is being refused entry to the homeless shelter, he overhears it is because of her missing the sign-in time cut off. Her daughter Julia (Tinsley Price) steps out from beside Priscilla and the mother kneels down to tell her they can’t get in. The girl has a sad look on her face, as the mother and daughter walk away. Jack grabs a napkin and wraps his food up. He tells Jimmy he has to run and that he’ll meet him back at the camp. Jack walks outside and begins tailing the woman and the girl. After a bit the woman and girl arrive at a van. Jack decides to walk up to the van and knocks on the door. The woman opens it, no-one is there, she looks down to see the leftover food wrapped in a napkin, she inspects it before taking it inside. As it is late Jack finds a bench to lay on to get some shut eye. A bit later Jack is woken by some commotion. Jack quickly jumps to his feet, seeing a group of thieves trying to enter the van. Jack sneaks up to them and grabs one by the shoulder, breaking his arm before knocking him out. He easily dispatches of the four would be thieves with the woman being woken by one of the men’s screams. As the four men walk away, limping, the woman opens the door. She sees Jack standing there and thanks him. He looks to her with one eye closed due to the light from the van and tells her he was just looking out, she’d have done the same. She apologizes saying this is actually her first night out of a home, she assumes he was the one that brought her the food. He nods and asks her name, she introduces herself as Priscilla. He tells her that she should get some sleep, he’ll show her around the camp in the morning, it’s a bit safer than sleeping on the street.
Faustus walks into the office of one General Lewis Haywerth (Eric Roberts). Haywerth hugs Faustus commenting that it has been a long time since they have been in the same room. Faustus explains that he carries great news as well. One of their test subjects is out in the field. Haywerth looks to him shocked, he believed that all of Faustus’ experiments were a bust, Faustus says that it looks like this one subject took to the serum, albeit with delayed results. Haywerth asks where this subject is, Faustus explains that he is in Los Angeles.
Jack knocks on Priscilla’s van door asking if she is ready to get the tour. Her daughter opens the door instead. Jack gets down on one knee and introduces himself, asking for her name. Priscilla stands behind her daughter telling him her name is Julia, and Julia doesn’t talk to anyone but her. Jack stands telling her they better get a move on. As Jack takes her around the camp, she is amazed that everyone knows of him, she says that he must have done a lot for these people. Jack tries to be humber, but Jimmy cuts in saying that although this little camp isn’t much, Jack does what he can for the people in it. He is almost like their savior. Jimmy then introduces himself to the two girls. Jimmy tells Jack that Franklin was looking for him, something about men snooping around the camp. Jack smiles at the girls and tells them that Jimmy will help them book into the shelter for dinner that night. Priscilla smiles and thanks Jack for everything he has done. As Jimmy and the girls walk off, Jimmy rambles on.
Jack and Franklin approach three men and question them on why they are snooping around. Cal (Chris Klein) tells him that they best stay out of their business, they are looking for somebody. Jack tells them that if they don’t leave now there will be some problems. Cal and the other two laugh. The other two men lunge forward to attack Jack but he dodges and slams their heads together knocking them out. Cal backs away from Jack slowly.
General Haywerth and his men arrive at the Veterans Affairs office. Haywerth approaches the woman on the desk and asks to speak with Kirby. She questions him on whether he has an appointment or not. Haywerth smiles saying that he is an old friend, before telling her that he needs to see Kirby. She rings Kirby saying that there is a man to see him, Kirby tells her to send him in. She tells Haywerth of the room and he heads off, followed by his men. Kirby stands and opens the door to his office, he is unsure as to why so many men are entering. Kirby tries to question them but he gets no answer, one of them closes the door behind them. Haywerth tells Kirby to sit. Haywerth tells Kirby they need information of the whereabouts of Jack Monroe, he knows he is one of his clients. Kirby tells them that he cannot divulge that information. Haywerth tells him that they have gotten information out of people with far more resilience than he. Haywerth nods at his men, they approach Kirby and grab him by the arms, Kirby is already scared and says he is ready to talk. Haywerth simply chuckles, Kirby tells them that Jack is homeless, he would be in a camp, most likely along the beach. Haywerth straightens out Kirby’s shirt before thanking him and leaving.
Priscilla and Julia are packing up their things in the van and getting ready to move into the camp when they hear a banging on the side of the van. Cal is outside yelling at Priscilla telling them he knows they are in there. Priscilla holds Julia tight inside the van telling her everything will be fine. Jack is on his way to the van, helping them officially move into the camp. He notices Cal banging on the van and hurries to get over to it. He shoves Cal, asking him what is going on. Cal yells back for him to mind his own business before punching him, but Jack is unharmed. Jack grabs Cal and is about to knock him out when Priscilla opens the door, she asks that he let Cal go. She doesn’t want Julia seeing her father get beat up, no matter what he has done to them. Jack lets Cal go and suggests that he stay away. Cal scurries off. Jack asks if she is okay, Priscilla nods saying he has done a lot worse. Jack reassures her that once they are in the camp everything will be alright.
On the beach, Haywerth’s men are canvassing the various homeless camps with photos of Jack wearing his military regalia. Jack makes sure that Priscilla and Julia are settled in with Franklin before he heads off and helps Jimmy clear the beach. As Julia and Priscilla sit in the camp the men walk past. They stand in front of them and Julia sees the photo of Jack. The men look around before walking off again. Julia pulls her mothers arm and tells her that those scary men have a photo of Jack, and are looking for him. Cal – who is hiding behind a tree spying on the girls – is approached by a police officer and asked what he is doing. He tells them he’s just looking for someone, the police officer adds that he is too, he shows him a photo – the same one Haywerth’s men have. Cal recognises Jack and tells him that he just saw him walking closer to the beach and onto the sand. The officer thanks him and tells Cal that he hopes he finds the person he’s looking for. The officer calls it into Haywerth.
Jimmy and Jack are clearing scrap metal off of the beach. Jimmy and Jack are talking when they are interrupted by 6 rather large men, obviously Haywerth’s men. They tell Jack that he is coming with them. Jack tells him that part of his life is over, he doesn’t know what the government wants with him now anyway. He continues cleaning the scrap, he instructs Jimmy to do so as well. The six men then approach Jack and put there hands on him to take him away. Jimmy tries to push one of them off, the man shoves Jimmy to the ground, causing him to hit his head on a bit of metal. Haywerth’s men stop and look, as does Jack. Jack immediately goes to his side, but discovers dead from the head wound. The men put their hands on Jack again, but he manages to escape their grasp and begins to run. One of the men pulls out a gun but he is told to lower it by Haywerth – they don’t want another civilian casualty. Jack keeps running, eventually bumping into Priscilla and Julia. He tells her they need to go, she asks who is looking for him, he tells her he will explain later but right now they need to get out of the area. They all get into the van and drive off. Jack looks out the window and can see Jimmy’s lifeless body in the distance. Two cars follow them in the van. Priscilla drives, and she picks up speed as she goes. Jack is ensuring Julia is safe in her seat and keeps her calm. Priscilla asks what she should do, he tells her that she needs to start driving like a maniac, soon she will come across a junkyard they will hide there. Surprisingly the van is just quick enough and Priscilla is driving crazy enough to evade the two cars. She swerves into the junkyard and keeps driving to the end, hiding behind a big pile of junk.
Haywerth decides to resort to a man that knows Jack best, his former commanding officer, retired Captain Mark Heath (Ted Levine). Haywerth lands a helicopter in the middle of a golf course in Arizona and walks toward the golfing Heath. Heath is evidently dismayed by the arrival of Haywerth. Haywerth shakes the hand of Heath before asking for his help. Haywerth explains that he needs his help to bring Monroe in, hinting that he is showing a pattern of violent behavior. Heath jokes that the serum Faustus gave him must have finally kicked in. Haywerth gives him a look and Heath realizes that that indeed is the case. On the helicopter, Haywerth tells Heath that they just need him to talk to Monroe and try to get him to surrender peacefully as he is a danger to himself and others right now.
Jack, Priscilla and Julia sit around a campfire in the junkyard. Jack tells them that when he was in the Army, he was put into a special "super soldier" program where scientists injected him with a serum to increase his physical attributes. Julia, interested, asks if it worked. Jack stands up and finds a metal pole among the junk. He then easily bends the bar completely in half. Priscilla asks him why the military is after him now. Jack says because they finally found out the serum worked after all these years. They want to test him, see why he, out of the dozens they experimented on, was the one the serum worked on.
In the morning, Jack finds their makeshift junkyard camp surrounded by Haywerth's men. Heath emerges from a truck and asks Jack how he's doing. Jack doesn't seem happy to see Heath and asks why he allowed his unit to be subjected to Faustus' experiments. Heath looks at the ground and insists it wasn't up to him, but he retired after he found out the extent of what was going on. Heath asks Jack to come with him and Haywerth peacefully so nobody else gets hurt. Jack just stares at him. Haywerth joins the conversation and points out that there are dozens of snipers with him in their cross-hairs. Jack says a few bullets aren’t going to stop him. Haywerth says maybe not, but his lady friend and her daughter don't have the same invulnerability. Jack frowns and volunteers to come in peacefully if Haywerth leaves Priscilla and Julia alone and keeps Cal away from them. Haywerth agrees and has Jack cuffed and escorted into the helicopter. Priscilla and Julia call after him, but Jack tells them that he is sorry for putting them into danger and he just wants them to be safe.
Jack is brought to Faustus, who is excited that Jack came back to him since every other subject of the experiment killed themselves over the years. Jack is strapped to a table and held down by four men. Heath and Haywerth stand in a room, Haywerth explains that Monroe will make many more soldiers like him and help America win many wars to come. Realizing that Haywerth has brought Jack back for more of Faustus' experiments, Heath knocks Haywerth out and pulls a fire alarm. Simultaneously Faustus takes a sample of Jack's blood. The alarm begins blaring through the lab, distracting Faustus. Jack breaks free from his restraints and knocks out the four men with ease. He then begins running, escaping the lab. He regroups with Heath in the hallways. Jack asks if the alarm is Heath's doing. Heath nods and helps lead Jack out of the building.
Outside of the building, Heath tells Jack that Haywerth and Faustus are going to keep looking for him. Jack says he knows. Heath gives Jack an envelope of cash and implores Jack to keep moving, get far away, become a nomad. Heath shakes Jack’s hand, telling him he is sorry. Jack salutes Heath before continuing on his way.
In the middle of the night Jack pays a visit to Priscilla and Julia. He gives them the envelope of cash and tells Priscilla to use it to get back on their feet. He tells them that Cal won’t be coming near them. Priscilla gives Jack a kiss and Julia gives him a hug. Jack begins walking with nothing but the clothes on his back and a small backpack, east, away from the Pacific Ocean.
Post-Credits Scene:
An American World War II recruitment video plays. The heroic soldier and mascot for the US forces, Captain America (Glen Powell), smiles for the camera as he shows off his "All-American" abilities by lifting a beautiful USO hostess over his head - with one hand! Captain America encourages others to join him in the war effort before punching an actor dressed as Adolf Hitler.
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